Rich continues to respond to Tom’s challenge of finding bias at NPR, even though Rich thinks Tom is moving the goal posts.

Peggy may want to take note that some black folks don’t like the metaphors used by some gays. Being black is apparently not a lifestyle choice.

I must confess that I am not current on my officially sanctioned politically correct brainwashing talking points so I don’t know if it is currently OK to say that gays have a genetic predisposition to be gay (i.e., they’re born that way) or not. My gay friends say they’re born that way (full disclosure: I only know like three gay people in real life. But find it odd I also have three gay bloggers on my blogroll, that I know of). Regardless, if that is the case, being gay would also not be a lifestyle choice.

The number of women getting carry permits in Tennessee is growing:

6 News looked at the fastest growing group of people getting gun carry permits in Tennessee and discovered they’re packing in their purses.

Debbie Reynolds is a travel agent. When you ask her what she likes to do, she’s quick to tell you she loves seeing new places, being a mother and decorating.

She also gets her gun carry permit in a couple weeks. She plans to carry a nine millimeter handgun. “I never expected that I would be carrying any type of gun with me.”

But Reynolds said that she changed her mind after North Dakota college student Dru Sjodin was kidnapped from a mall parking lot. Her body is still missing. “If that poor little girl had some way to defend herself, she wouldn’t be in the situation she’s in now,” Reynolds explained.

When asked if she believes she would use her gun when threatened, Reynolds said, “I hope I never have to. But I will.”

6 News obtained a list of people with gun carry permits in Tennessee. It shows a growing number of women are carrying guns.

According to the Tennessee Department of Safety, in 2000 about 2,500 women were issued handgun carry permits. In 2002, that number jumped four fold, to 8,314 new permits. And in 2003, another 6,256 permits were issued to women. Each permit is good for four years.

Firearms instructor Bob Weist said he sees mostly women in his basic handgun course. Some are single mothers looking to protect themselves. Others have husbands who carry handguns.

“Some of them have had a problem in the past with a stalker or an ex,” Weist said. “And sometimes it’s been a next door neighbor or a relative who’s had the problem. They just realize that it could be them…and they’ve got to do something about it.”

Not only are women signing up for Weist’s gun classes, but more women are coming into his gun store.

The vote for the Assault Weapons Ban will be today. Call your senators (1-800-648-3516) and tell them not to vote for it. If you already called last week, call again. Send a fax (don’t send email, they don’t read that stuff). What are you waiting for?

The Times Dispatch quotes Senator George Allen, who voted for the 1994 assault weapons ban but is opposed to its renewal:

I have concluded . . . that this symbolic ban of 19 firearms chosen for cosmetic reasons is a meaningless, toothless law that has virtually no impact on crime.

It is entirely symbolic, which is exactly why it must not be renewed.

Buddy Don offers us some translation. He forget jeet?, which is hillbilly for Have you dined this evening?

The AP:

Senators pressed Monday for votes on the reauthorization of the nation’s assault weapons ban, with Democrats and Republican both close to winning one of the most contentious, closely-watched gun votes so far this year.

Democrats think they have the votes needed to add the 10-year assault ban renewal to a popular bill that would keep gunmakers and distributors from being sued over gun-related crimes.

They are taking no chances. Sens. John Kerry and John Edwards — locked in a heated Super Tuesday primary battle for their party’s presidential nomination — are stepping off the campaign trail to add their votes to the Democratic side. A vote on the bill is expected Tuesday.

With the Senate split with 51 Republicans, 48 Democrats and one independent senator, Democrats already are lobbying Vice President Cheney.

They’re calling in Kerry and Edwards to actually vote while they run for office. Why are Kerry and Edwards actually going to start voting for stuff now? And Cheney?

The Geek reports the AWB is up for discussion. DiFi has started the scaremongering.

Go to his site and read for updates as they happen.

All I can say is, he forgot Gland Canyon.

Jeff has the boob image back and his weekly round up of gun bias. It deals with the Gun Bill.

One other thing, it seems other folks on the pro gun side are taking issue with various criticism that the NRA may have struck a deal to not oppose some anti-gun measures in exchange for the immunity bill. The email exchanges (of which I am on the mailing list) are comparing such criticisms to chicken little conspiracy theorists. I hope there is nothing to the NRA sell out rumors and have stated if they stop the assault weapons ban, I’ll join for life.

Why, then, has the NRA issued a letter denying such intents only after the allegations surfaced? They could have addressed the AWB and the gun show upfront.

And let’s not forget that the NRA could have killed the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban. They rolled over and played dead because the wanted the National Instant Check System and the Brady Bill (which they co-authored) more.

They also supported the 1934 and 1968 gun control bills. In 1968, they wanted to end mail order so that US gun companies could make more money. So, if it looks and quacks like a duck, you call it a duck.

I think the internet rumors actually spurned the NRA to openly address the issue. I don’t buy that the anti-gun bills will necessarily be killed in the house. Regardless, it is unnecessary to even allow the bills through.

As always, I hope for the best but expect the worst.

TriggerFinger has a round up of the gun bill and amendments. Keep calling.

Rodger is back. He was shut down for bandwidth issues after he received 1.7M hits in three weeks.

GunFacts has released a printable brochure with facts about Assault Weapons and their almost nil affect on crime.

The Comedian quotes Stephen Bainbridge on Martha Stewart:

We have here a case in which is the government flung allegations at Stewart, which they ended up deciding not to charge her with. The government then prosecuted Stewart for having denied the very same allegations the government decided it couldn’t prove.

Sounds about right to me.

Today’s must read, Kim visits the Dachau concentration camp:

We were there on a bitterly cold day — flakes of snow, an icy wind, and a simple question came from one of the kids: “Did they have coats?”

Suddenly, The Mrs. started sobbing: great heaving sobs which stopped her in her tracks, and forced her to bend almost double with their power. I held her, and cried too.

After a while, we recovered, and walked on. No, David, they weren’t given coats. They were expendable.

At the end of the trip, we turned to the kids and said: “One day, someone may say to you that this never happened. You are here to bear witness that it did. Never, ever allow those lies to take root and spread. Make sure your children know that this happened, too. This cannot be allowed to happen again.”

The swing vote for Maryland’s Assault Weapons ban is sticking to his guns and not supporting the ban. He seems to be doing so because he doesn’t think it will pass not because he’s that passionate about it:

“The democratic party in Maryland can ill afford to lose ground in conservative districts,” Giannetti said in his statement.

At the meeting at City Hall Wednesday, one citizen asked Giannetti to pay attention to a growing gang problem in his district, while another questioned what legitimate uses sportsmen would have for assault weapons.

District 3 City Councilman Eric Olson urged Giannetti not to “water down” the ban in order to get it to pass, as suggested by Giannetti’s Feb. 12 amendment that would limit the state to 19 semiautomatic weapons covered under the federal ban. Giannetti said he agreed.

“If we’re going to put a bill on the governor’s desk that will probably be vetoed anyway, it might as well be strong,” Giannetti said.

An article on how insurers are shunning some breeds of dog. I didn’t realize that dog bites accounted for so many claims.